New life support quiz – The Emergency Medicine Manual

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Created on November 16, 2025 By Bob Dunn

Life support

BLS and ALS

1 / 15

1. The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest with CPR in progress is

a) 15 seconds

b) 30 seconds

c) 60 seconds

d) 90 seconds

The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest is about 90 seconds with CPR in progress.

The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest is about 90 seconds with CPR in progress.

2 / 15

2. The appropriate rate of chest compressions in BLS in adults is

a) 120/min

b) 90/min

c) 140/min

d) 80/min

The appropriate rate of chest compressions in BLS in adults is 100-120/min with most people preferring around 120/min.

The appropriate rate of chest compressions in BLS in adults is 100-120/min with most people preferring around 120/min.

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3. The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately

a) 70%

b) 50%

c) 95%

d) 30%

The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately 95%.

The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately 95%.

4 / 15

4. Regarding cardiac arrest following poisoning which one of the following statements is incorrect:

a) The prognosis for most patients with poisoning is worse than that of older patients with cardiogenic cardiac arrest

b) Naloxone is an antidote for clonidine toxicity

c) Diazepam and adrenaline are antidotes for chloroquine toxicity

d) HCO3 therapy may be indicated

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5. In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, which one of the following is most likely to be of benefit

a) Empiric K+

b) High dose adrenaline

c) Vector change defibrillation

d) Empiric HCO3

In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, vector change defibrillation is most likely to be of benefit - although limited. The other treatments are all associated with even worse outcomes than expected.

In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, vector change defibrillation is most likely to be of benefit - although limited. The other treatments are all associated with even worse outcomes than expected.

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6. In cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation in adults, which one of the following management sequences is preferred:

a) Commence CPR / apply monitor to determine rhythm / defibrillate

b) Perform endotracheal intubation / commence CPR / apply monitor to determine rhythm / defibrillate

c) Commence CPR / establish IV access / apply monitor to determine rhythm / defibrillate

d) Commence CPR / apply monitor to determine rhythm / perform endotracheal intubation / defibrillate

In cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation in adults the following sequence is preferred: Commence external cardiac massage / apply monitor to determine rhythm / defibrillate.

In cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation in adults the following sequence is preferred: Commence external cardiac massage / apply monitor to determine rhythm / defibrillate.

7 / 15

7. Match the drug doses with the following agents used in paediatric cardiac arrest

1. Adrenaline

2. Amiodarone

3. Lignocaine

4. Atropine

The correct paediatric doses are:
Adrenaline 10 microg/kg
Atropine 20 microg/kg
Amiodarone 5mg/kg
Lignocaine 1 mg/kg

The correct paediatric doses are:
Adrenaline 10 microg/kg
Atropine 20 microg/kg
Amiodarone 5mg/kg
Lignocaine 1 mg/kg

8 / 15

8. The most appropriate sedation agent for a patient with VF about to be defibrillated but who is still aware during CPR is

a) Ketamine

b) Nothing

c) Midazolam

d) Propofol

The most appropriate sedation agent for a patient with VF who is still aware during CPR is nothing. Whilst this may seem harsh, the delay to administration of any agent (allowing for circulation time) will decrease the probability of survival too much to justify.

The most appropriate sedation agent for a patient with VF who is still aware during CPR is nothing. Whilst this may seem harsh, the delay to administration of any agent (allowing for circulation time) will decrease the probability of survival too much to justify.

9 / 15

9. The preferred initial sequence of management of pulseless electrical activity is which one of the following:

a) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer adrenaline 1mg /check for treatable causes / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes/ perform endotracheal intubation

b) Obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / commence CPR / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes / check for treatable causes

c) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer atropine 1mg / check for treatable causes / perform endotracheal intubation / administer adrenaline every 4 minutes

d) Check for treatable causes / commence CPR / obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes

10 / 15

10. In paediatric cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the defibrillator energy setting is

a) 3J/kg

b) 4J/kg

c) 1J/kg

d) 2J/kg

In paediatric cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the defibrillator energy setting is 4J/Kg.

In paediatric cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the defibrillator energy setting is 4J/Kg.

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11. In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately

a) 4 minutes

b) 10 minutes

c) 12 minutes

d) 7 minutes

In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately 7 minutes. This means there is significant organ hypoxia and acidosis that is not present in in hospital witnessed cardiac arrests.

In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately 7 minutes. This means there is significant organ hypoxia and acidosis that is not present in in hospital witnessed cardiac arrests.

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12. How much does the effectiveness of defibrillation in terminating VF decrease by each minute of delay?

a) 15%

b) 10%

c) 1%

d) 5%

The effectiveness of defibrillation in terminating VF decreases by about 15% for each minute of delay.

The effectiveness of defibrillation in terminating VF decreases by about 15% for each minute of delay.

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13. In out of hospital adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the third shock will be delivered at

a) 8 minutes after CPR has commenced

b) 4 minutes after CPR has commenced

c) 6 minutes after CPR has commenced

d) 2 minutes after CPR has commenced

In out of hospital adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the third shock will be delivered at 4 minutes after CPR has commenced.

In out of hospital adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the third shock will be delivered at 4 minutes after CPR has commenced.

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14. In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF which one of the following strategies is most likely to obtain ROSC?

a) 2 minutes of CPR then defibrillation

b) CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

c) 3 stacked shocks, 1mg adrenaline then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

d) Immediate single defibrillation, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF, CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective is the strategy most likely to obtain ROSC. According to ILCOR guidelines (as of 2025) this strategy should be considered, but evidence suggests it is superior to the out of hospital cardiac arrest algorithm.

In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF, CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective is the strategy most likely to obtain ROSC. According to ILCOR guidelines (as of 2025) this strategy should be considered, but evidence suggests it is superior to the out of hospital cardiac arrest algorithm.

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15. In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at

a) 6 minutes after CPR has commenced

b) 4 minutes after CPR has commenced

c) 8 minutes after CPR has commenced

d) 2 minutes after CPR has commenced

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at 6 minutes after CPR has commenced.

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at 6 minutes after CPR has commenced.

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